The Bishop Strachan School (BSS), one of Canada’s oldest independent school for girls JK – Grade 12, is devoted to giving students exposure to emerging technology.

At BSS, our students are engaged in authentic problem solving that not only gives them a unique perspective into the real-world, but encourages collaboration as well as leadership. The school’s mission is to inspire girls to be fearless and educate them to be leaders, and 54% of recent graduates have chosen to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) as well as business and commerce related fields.

Sage Franch is a BSS alumna and a former participant of the school’s Financial Assistance program and is now the Co-founder of Crescendo, a software company that offers AI-powered diversity and inclusion training for tech companies. Sage was part of a team of experts brought in to BSS in March 2017 to facilitate a one-of-a-kind hackathon and training program that introduced students to blockchain. Blockchain is an unchangeable digital record that’s shared by a network of computers. It has a wide variety of potential uses — from cryptocurrencies like bitcoin to the pharmaceutical industry to town planning commissions.

Innovative programs like this demonstrate the school’s commitment to push the envelope, allowing students to learn novel technologies that will ultimately help them make a difference, and Sage is an example of just that. She credits BSS and its Financial Assistance program with giving her the education, drive, and confidence she needed to excel in her career. “I know firsthand the impact that this specific education can have on a young woman,” she says. “It really changed my life. The school gave me my career, it gave me my reputation, it gave me pretty much who I am today.”